Push button for control panels

Abstract

A push button which is employed in a control panel includes button body, a pushing finger, and a core. The button body has hollow space formed at an inner portion thereof and a bellows portion formed around a side portion thereof. The pushing finger protrudes upwardly from an outer surface of an upper end portion of the button body for receiving a pushing force. The core is retained in the hollow space, and fixed at an inner surface of the closed upper end portion. When the bellows portion of the button body is elastically compressed by a pushing force, an other end portion of the core is protruded from the lower end portion of the button body, and when the pushing force is removed from the pushing finger, the other end portion of the core is retained in the hollow space.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A push button for a control panel comprising: a button body having a hollow space formed at an inner portion thereof and a bellows portion formed around a side portion thereof, the button body having an upper end portion which is closed and a lower end portion which is opened;   a pushing finger protruded upwardly from an outer surface of the upper end portion of the button body for receiving a pushing force; and   a core retained in the hollow space, the core having an end portion fixed at an inner surface of the closed upper end portion,   wherein when the bellows portion of the button body is elastically compressed by a pushing force, an other end portion of the core is protruded from the lower end portion of the button body, and when the pushing force is removed from the pushing finger, the other end portion of the core is retained in the hollow space.   
     
     
       2. A push button as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side portion of the button body includes an upper side portion and a lower side portion, and the bellows portion is formed between the upper side portion and the lower side portion, wherein the upper side portion substantially has a cylindrical shape and the lower side portion substantially has a skirt shape, when viewed in a side.   
     
     
       3. A push button as claimed in claim 1, wherein said core substantially has a bar shape. 
     
     
       4. A push button as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diameter of the push finger is less than that of the button body. 
     
     
       5. A control panel comprising: a printed circuit board including a plurality of electrical contact terminals;   a front bezel having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of electrical contact terminals of the printed circuit board;   an elastic pad positioned between the printed circuit board and the front bezel; and   a plurality of push buttons formed on the elastic pad,   wherein each of the plurality of push buttons includes: a button body having a hollow space formed at an inner portion thereof and a bellows portion formed around a side portion thereof, the button body having an upper end portion which is closed and a lower end portion which is opened;   a pushing finger protruded upwardly from an outer surface of the upper end portion of the button body for receiving a pushing force; and   a core retained in the hollow space, the core having an end portion fixed at an inner surface of the closed upper end portion,     wherein when the bellows portion of the button body is elastically compressed by a pushing force, an other end portion of the core is protruded from the lower end portion of the button body, and when the pushing force is removed from the pushing finger, the other end portion of the core is retained in the hollow space.   
     
     
       6. A control panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein said side portion of the button body includes an upper side portion and a lower side portion, and the bellows portion is formed between the upper side portion and the lower side portion, wherein the upper side portion substantially has a cylindrical shape and the lower side portion substantially has a skirt shape, when viewed in a side.   
     
     
       7. A control panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein said core substantially has a bar shape. 
     
     
       8. A control panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein a diameter of the push finger is less than diameters of the button body and the plurality of apertures, and the diameter of the button body is more than that of each of the plurality of apertures.